CIHM 
Microfiche 
Series 
(Monographs) 


ICMH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(monographies) 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microraproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes  /  Note?  technique",  ct  bibliogiaphiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best  original 
copy  available  for  filming     Features  of  this  copy  which 
may  be  biblioqraphically  unique,  which  may  alter  any 
of  the  images  in  the  reproduction,  or  which  may 
significantly  change  the  usual  mtthod  of  filming,  are 
checked  below 


L'Institut  a  micrcfilme  le  meilleur  «xpmpldiri>  qu'il 
lui  a  ete  possible  de  se  procurer     Les  details  de  cet 
exemplaire  qui  sont  peut  etre  uniques  du  point  de  vuc 
bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier  une  im.iqe 
reproduite.  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une  modification 
dans  la  methode  normale  de  f  ilmage  sont  indiques 
CI  dessous 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couvcrture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagee 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restauree  et/ou  pelliculce 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


r     n  Coloured  maps/ 

I I  Caites  geographiques  en  couleur 


n 


Coloured  ink  lie  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i  e  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


□  Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relie  avec  d'autres  documents 


n 


n 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge  interieure 

Blank  leaves  added  du'ing  restoration  may  appear 
within  the  text    Whenever  possible,  these  have 
been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  t)  anches  a|outies 
lurs  d'une  testauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais.  lorsque  cela  etait  possible  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  ete  filmees. 


□ 
G 

a 
□ 


n 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  dsmaqed/ 
Pages  endommagees 

Pages  restored  and/or  lar  mated' 
Pages  resiaurees  et/ou  pelliculees 

Pages  discoloured   stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  decolorees.  tachetees  ou  piquees 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  detachees 

Showthrouqh 
Transparence 


I  Quality  of  print  vanes/ 
!  Qudlite  inegalc  de  limpression 


egal 

Continuous  pagination/ 
Pagination  continue 

Includes  indexlesi/ 
Comprend  un  (des)  index 

Title  on  header  taken  from   ' 
le  titre  de  Ten  ttXe  provient 


n  Title  page  of  issue/ 
Page  de  titre  de  la  livraison 


□  Caption  (if  issu 
Titre  de  depart 


sue/ 
part  de  la  livraisnn 


n 


Masthead/ 

Geneitque  Iperiodiques)  de  la  livraisnn 


Additional  comments  / 


I  Cotitmentaites  supplementaires 


Pagination  is  as  fi)llows:  p.  J5]-3b2. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Cc  document  est  filme  au  taux  de  reduction  indique  ci  dessous 

'Gx  '4*  ^tx 


:bx 


1 — r 


T 


T 


^2X 


ItX 


20X 


V 


24X 


»'8* 


■»« 


j;» 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 


Archives  uf  Ontario 
Toronto 


L'exemplaire  fiimi  fut  reproduit  grace  k  la 
gAnArositA  de: 


Archives  publiques  de  I'Ontario 
Toronto 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  spacificationa. 


Las  images  suivantss  ont  AtA  reproduces  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nertet*  de  rexemplaire  filme.  et  an 
conformity  avec  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmaga. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  t.ie  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impresaion. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim^e  sont  filmAs  »n  commandant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commenqant  par  la 
premiire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impresston  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  oar 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning   "CON- 
TINUED ').  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning   "END"). 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc  .  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche   selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  ■^^-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  ▼  signifie  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.    peuvent  etre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  da  reduction  diffdrents 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  etre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA.  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrant  la  mithode. 


1 

2 

3 

1  2  3 

4  5  6 


MICROCOPY    RESOIUTION    TEST    CHART 

ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No    2 


M  -APPLIED  irvtHGE     In 

^S  "^othejler.    Net*    t.-^rk  146G9        uSA 

a»  I  -f'l    *8;  -■  OJOO  -   P^iore 

^5  I 'IB)    ?a8   -  5989    -  To, 


THE  ONTaFUU  ARCHIVES:   SCOPE  OF  iTS 
OPERATIONS 

T'.r  Amen. nil  H;::^>rii;i!  A«.-, .edition,  held  at 
Butl'ul'-..  N\  V  .  IVfi't-mbi-r  ^7-;io.  I'-i . 


Ai.':xA\i>Ki;  1  }:.\^i:h 


l;,-(!iiiU-i  lU'H,  II...-   \;.i.!i.,:  Ui-i-  .11  •■!  l!..-  .\ii.fr:.u  .  U.r?l..i  !..il  A  a'.u.il;  ;li 


w  v.smNi.TO.v 


t 


THE  ONTARIO  ARCHIVES:  SCOPE  OF  ITS 
OPER^-'TOXS 

(  Paper  rr-ud  at  tiie  t'vyiit;.  -^c-. .  nli.  ar.nual  mpolini:  of 

the  Amorican  Hfsfirirol  A'^-iir'.:a\on,  held  at 

BulT.ilo.  N.  Y..  Decemiii  r  'J 7  of,  llUl  ; 


ALEXANDKK    FILV>KR 

LL.    I).,    I.ITT.    I)..    I.    .-..    A..    S^llT.    l:[)IN-. 


Reprinted  from  the  Annual  Report  of  the  American  Historical  Aaeociation 
for  1911,  pagea  ^i-lia'J 


WA.SUIX.,iO.N" 


THE  ONTARIO  ARCHIVES. 


Pv  AlFXAMir.i:    1i:a>i:i:.  i'l    \  ii;i  i;il  Arili:\i.-t. 


The  lino  of  {icriiiiiTiiti'in  hciucrn  \\u-  Canadiuii  or  Ddiiiiiiini) 
jii'chivcs  iind  the  Ontiui'i  nr  dtluT  [iii.\  iiic'uil  jinliivc^  is  -dtncwlini 
siniilai'  to  that  ln'twcrii  tlic  !'"<'i!it;!!  aiiil  State  aii-hi\r<  in  ilu'  I  niti'i! 

S[;,!r>.  It  consists  wilil  t  h.c  ^('(^pi'  ol  t  lie  juiisili'l  loll  of  the  l)o!|til[iMli 
or  major  <'onimoii\v<'allh,  ainl  lii''  naiiowcf  "i-  iiiiiidi-  jiirisdici  inii 
of  thi'  Provinci'.  Th.is  con-tiliilc-.  a  rh  aiiy  lirfim  i  iioimdary  within 
which  lioth  Work  witliotit  conijici  ov  <i\cila|i])inL:  of  inicic>ts.  ()\ir 
piihUc  chaitci-  is  an  imiM'lial  -'.:ittiii'  (ntillcil  ii;c  Bir  i-  X.iith 
Aniciica  act.  aiul  lo-tia\.  whcii  th.cic  aic  nine  i'lillv  cieisUi  tied. 
aiiioiji-nKurs  Pro\i'icrs  within  li:-  l>oin!!iion  of  ('  l-i,  ii  i^  ^tcr- 
cstinL;  to  iccali  tlial   whcii  tlic    ^^litish    N'orih    .\;      .  ica    m  '  ■•■<■ 

law    in   l.Sfi?  tile  suhtilic  set  foilh   ihal    it   was  ■     ,  .  a.  t   fo{  n 

of  Canada.  Xova  Scotia.  an<i    \r\v  13fn'i'-\\  icii.  a!id  tlie  i;,!\. 
thcrtof;   and  fi  ]■  pni-poscs  coiniertcd  thcfew  iili." 

This   act    pi'i  -.ides    foe   il;r   ::ovciiii)a  nt  of  Ontaiio   a   liciitc    m 
i^ovcinof.  wiio  iepfe--cnts  the  ('i-o\vn:  an  executive  c  .un   il  ot   i  ir 
iei's  of  state  and  a  Ivt^ishitiife  eoniiiosed  of  <luiy  electeii  '.'p cseir 
ine>^  of  tlie  people.      To  tliis   Imdy  ihi'  act   secures  eXchlsive  !.'L^i-.l 
tive  po\v(i-s    in  Ontuiio  and  (.^iu'hc.  in   the  niattri- of  Crow  n  hua!- 
fo!'e>ts  and  !;iiMes:  education,  iVoni  '.he  jndilic  coniinon  sch  >   1  to  tii 
univei-sity:  municipal    sovcMinicTit.    institutions    and    laws;    incni- 
jioiation  of  chaitei'ed  coiniiaiues—coniinercial.  fiiinnciah  pi-ofessioiia!. 
(il'  social:  soleiuniz:  'iiiii  of  inai  iiai,'e.  involvini;  family  history,  vitai 
-■tsitistics.  etc.:  ])ro|iefty  and  ci\  il  rights:  adminl^t  lation  of  justice, 
eml)iacin<.'    both    civil    and    ciiminai    jurisdiction:  ai;riculture    and 
immiLjrat lom.    under   wliicii   nuinicipal.    industrial,    and    acrrieulturui 
statistics  ar<>  collected,   tahulnlv'd.  and  puliiished;  the  loundin<;  und 
njaintenanee  of  ]>rovinciaI  institutions  such  as   iiospituls,   iisyiutns, 
refoiinntories.   ])iisoiis,   and   institutions   for   the   instruction   of   the 
vleaf  iiiul  dumb  iind    he  blind:   ollices  for  tiie  local  registration  of 
deeds,  titles  to  land;  the  licensinsj;  of  she;,;,  taverns.  hotel.«,  aiieiion- 
e<is.  etc.;  the  erection  of  local  jniblic  works;  the  authorization  and 
restilation  of  trans])orfation  not  inter])rovincial. 

In  sht)rt  the  Provincial  Government  gets  close  to  tlie  life  of  the 
j)eople  and  touches  its  biisitiess  and  social  sides  intiniatel}'.  As 
at  jiresent  eonstitut(>d  the  ministry  conqirisc-  tlie  ilepartmen;s  of: 
Tlu  ai:.)rniy  "general,  dealinij;  with  the  administration  of  law;  the 
provincial  se'ietary.  <  (introliinir   resist  ration,  and   the  public  in.sti- 


T 


3r)4  A^^•;!;I(■.\^■   mj-i.'Iikai.   \>-u(;!ati(ix. 

tutiuh^;  tlio  iHw.  i.ii  ill  ;r.  ;.::::•  ;■.  ,1.  .ili:);;  wwL  t!ic  piililic  accKUi,;?;; 
a^'ricr.ltiirc-:  ImikN.  I'<inst>.  and  inim'^;  puhlic  Wdrks:  and  (■<!iiciit''.;i. 
'ilk'  {'lini!'  iiiii!i--ii  r  i<  <t:,tui'>i'ily  ;>!r.-i(!ciit  of  the  cdii  icil  iimi  In  .id 
(  f  tlir  inini-lry.  Bc^iiic^  ihi^i'  and  rx(  I'l  i^iii;;  si'Tiii-niini-lci  i;!l  ci 
-■  iiariiiicnia!  I'iiiicl ioii"^  ar^'  !\vi)  (■(iinmis>i()ii-,  th(»  In-diM-cl.itrii' 
ci'inmi.—  inii  mk!  i!i>' <  .'•v,rii;ii.':!i  railway  ('(iii:i;ii<siMn.  'i"li>':-c.  v.itli 
the  Iciji^laturc  ii^cli'.  aiv  \h<'  dc]i;i:liiKi!(''  ul'  j^'nvcinnicnt  in  wliici) 
v'lr  nrchiv;<  (•riirinai,'. 

Arcllivc-  we  li:\('  (KniU'd  a-^  il!"  !•■  (-(ifd-.  llic  husiiuv--  ]ia|>ci~.  (  )' 
ihc  [>r()\'inc<'  haxin:^  a  i'  'iiiatiiiif  •.  :di;i'.  Aii  arclii\-('s  need  mil  la'ff 
!li^'^^i^■al  \a.!u('  in  ll;c  r.iiifW  on-.'.  ''iiliii>'  diMiiiitcnt'^  jiiav  hav*^ 
a  Imsinc'-^  "i  recdrd  value  an.-iri  fniiu  lu<tniy.  ytl  it  wuid''  In-  hard  lo 
say  that  liny  irixcn  d'ii-unn-n:  niii^it  nc!  l»c  tcunil  n^cfnl  in  :-i\nu'  \\::v 
in  roniUT' inn  "ill:  lii'-iory.  'I  he  !>i;iin  value  oi'  a  doeuineni  is  as  an 
e\  '  iencc  111'  Iiuili.  i-A'i'iy  d'^eniient  ilm-s  nn!  contain  li'Uh,  \ei 
evi  n  sueh  a  dccnnient  nniy.  in  H'e'-i.  lie  a  faet  in  liisioiy.  and  tiain- 
inU  and  cxneiience  leat'  til  a  i'.    -nnahly  true  intcfnfctat inn. 

'idle  Ontariii  liufeau  id'  Arijuves,  (li'Ljaiiized  in  I'.iD.'i.  i-  ef|uallv 
i{lated  and  atiaclied  in  ail  llio  Guvcrnnienl  depai-tnients,  and 
receives  all  itapei's  and  duruincnts  of  roeuni  ^■ahle  of  ol  liistoiieal 
iiiteifsi,  not  in  ctu'rcnt  n.-e.  I'roisi  all  hraiKdus  of  the  ])ul)lie  -vice. 
When  possible,  fiiese  (loiiiineiits  are  ciassiiicM.I,  calendared,  and 
indexed. 

'i'he  ai'(diiv(^s  oriirinatini^  in  tlie  le^isluti^-e  assemhly  are:  Tlio 
Scroll  of  I'arlianient  ihe  document-  known  hy  tlmt  title  hei!)<^  the 
notes  and  nieiiioranda  nuide  }fy  tlie  (lerk.  of  the  routine  ])ioceed- 
in^s  of  the  house  duriiii;'  its  sessions;  t!ie  originitl  siijjniitures  of  th<' 
members  of  the  legislative  assembly  subscribc<l  to  the  oath  of 
alleijiance  when  •'swoii!  in'  as  nienJ)(>rs  of  tlio  assembly,  the  sig- 
luiiures  |)ein<^  written  on  partdiment :  copies  of  the  statutes  in  the 
form  in  which  tliey  have  })een  assend  to  and  signed  by  His  Honor 
the  Lieutenant  Governor.  These  copies  ar<'  printed  on  good  jiaper, 
and  after  having  been  assented  to  becom<>  the  originals  of  the  stat- 
utes in  foree;  and  the  original  coi)y  pertaining  to  the  consolidated 
statutes. 

Among  the  assembly  archives  are  the  manuscripts  of  all  sessional 
papers  not  printed  (a  sessional  ])aper  is  a  return  called  for  by  order 
of  the  house,  whether  printed  .  not,  and  the  reports  of  depart- 
ments and  all  branches  of  the  public  service  presented  to  the  house); 
the  originals  of  all  petitions  presented  to  the  house  (these  are  not 
printed) ;  the  originals  of  bills  in  the  form  in  which  they  are  pre- 
sented to  the  house;  anil  copies  of  bills  amended  during  their  pas- 
sage through  the  house.  The  original  copy  of  sessional  puners 
which  are  printed  is  returned  with  the  proof  sheets  to  the  depart.nent 
or  ofiicer  issuing  the  same. 


T 


(■i'NrKi;!;N<!C 


1 !  I  M  -  !  • 


:i:.:. 


Xiil  iii'iillv  lii'M    in   ihijM,!  i  ii;u  ,  ■  icc,ii(K  iif  the  lcf^i--l!iniif  ;ii  - 

(Ih'^c  i'I'  iiic  cNci  iitivc  •■liini.  ;l  nr  rninml.     Ail  iiiiiMii>  ii-ipiij  in..; 

cXcclll  i\C  .ill  i,  III  a"'  l>r<Uii;i  ;  !m'!'ii|<'  ;  !:c  ii.iMl'i!  lllii'M  !  !:r  rriM.|iiiiU':)<l;l- 
linii  di'  icjxiil  dl'  ihi'  miiii-l!'!  ii;i\iiiL;  \b.c  sul'ji  ■'  nial'rr  ;ii  cnnrL;!' 
The  irc(iiiini"niliiiiiiii  <pr  !t'|>ii!i   i~  ;i(!ilfi".;|.ii  u\  ]\\y.  llmiiT  ini'  I.iiii- 

irtlalil    (iii\f|!"   !■  ill  (  niin.il.       Tii.-   icjKiri-;  I'i'   !i;i'  cuillinii  I  I'l'  i.|   i    lii'l- 

rii    arc   '-i'^i!'        \>y    ilir    I'riir.c    iiiiiii-i'T   a-;    piT^iti.tit .  jirc  cmmiiT. 

>iL'Uri!  ')'»•  lili'  ilclk  ailc!  ^ui)l'liM('il  in  tiii'  li(  iiti-;i:.Mi  ynvrjuoi  lo.- 
a]i|iin\  ai,  ai'liT  wliirli  !!!.■  iImciiiiiciii  i'lculilcs  a'lii  ;■  kii'iwn  ;h  :i-i 
iii'iliT  (I  |ii<  Ijiiiwa-  till.  l.ii'Mi  ana';l  ( ioNcrlinr  in  (nnrr:'.  I-".!!'!',  i 
i^  ;rivcll  !;i  nliirr-  ill  i-(Hillc'ii  aMVcliiv.;  tic  i:('!i.'rai  jilll.!:'  h.  til,'  ]ir,.- 
l;iilli,'al!iM!  Ill'  lilcm  in  llh-  ')i!ta  >  ( ia/.ri  t  ;■;  ulii.iwiM'  l)y  ;!!'■  inil!-- 
,liis>iiill   (if  celt  iiici!   riijiit'.   Ill   iii."  il'palUllciiI  ■   ci''  |)i'l^(ill--  (•(ilircillr.;. 

TlKMiriiriiiiil  "Viinv  Mi'u'''|  iifi'  ■Aiiii  tiic  n'<a)!i):;;i'ri!a!iM;-  .  rcpnii-,  r.f.^l 
'apers  iipiii        "ir.,   liny  aif   iia-i'tl'.  aiVa'  !):  iti'j;  ii'L,'i-      it'll  in  six.-t,'!;;! 
jiiimial'-.  lifi         r  l!)i'   '    \aiil,i'i|i'  l^r'.iiiv  .;:i(!   .".lilcll   ill   rr<jlli--l. 

Til  •  aiij;l!  !.,,■  i!i'i)al1iiUM!i  nT  li;"  aMi  riU'V  <:;i'lirl-il  ai-ri-.s  i^  ciiilalli.  .; 
lu  r  ■  \  MliMiiiiKiiis  rniin!-.  licli  in  ncr^ia  .:!  iii>lni'y  am;  jsnisi)' ..- 
ilciic  ■  "i-ii..::  I'ruin  llic  aiiiiiini>!:ati,,:  >  .f  ji:^' ii-c.  in  iis  vast  rainilii  .1- 
lidV-;  aid  details.  rcachiiiL;  iVi  !ii  t'li'  p  iHiaMuan  aiii!  jii--ii-('  <ii'  t);,> 
pt-an  111  tJH'  liiicli  iniirt--  and  ciHii!  if  appeal;  finni  the  liunieiy 
minutes  (if  the  (piaiier  ■^('--ii'iis  if  ea:',y  !iiiie>,  in  ti;e  fccDi'd  nl  liie 
reeein  eaji-e  eelehi'e  wh.ieh  iii'iiienreil  liie  leL^i^lalinn  of  the  ednnii'v, 
or  settled  (pies t inns  (if  ei 'ii^tit  lil ii Hal  impel  f . 

With  the  (iliiee  i>f  ihe  pi'n  uieial  secretary  the  jii'nvine'il  areliivi-i 
noee>sai'il\"  has  very  (■l(l^e  relatinii-.  Tiie  (il'iee  of  the  seeretaiy  is 
the  inediuin  ef  coinmiinicai  inn,  ihrn'i^h  th.e  lie'.itenaiil  ynverner, 
lielween  the  proviiieial.  ddniininii.  iMid  impel  ial  ijjdvertunents.  All 
siieh  edirespondeiut'  is  reji;i--tered  and  e(ipies  (if  the  disjialeiies  avo 
kept.  All  cominissinns  lieariiii;  the  -^reat  seal  of  le  I'rnviiiec  ain 
i->ti  1  bv  the  secretary,  and  are  reyiistered  in  his  liice,  us  are  also 
all  a])pointmenis  made  hy  liis  Tldpair  the  Lieutenant  Go\onior  in 
Coiiiicii  re(jniriiig  the  i-suaiKO  nf  a  cdminissidu.  Charters  of  ino<ir- 
poraticin,  iieonses  for  exira-pfoviiieiid  eorupanie-  doing  hiisiness  in 
Ontario,  and  marriage  lieen.ses  are  i-siied  here  under  the  direction  of 
the  secretary:  here  also  are  made  rec()r(ls  of  all  C  rown  land  ])atents 
(the  earliest  record  being  170.')),  the  records  nf  all  mining  leases  and 
deeds  and  leases  relating  to  the  pul)lic  lands,  etc.  In  the  secretary's 
odice  are  kept  the  vital  statistics  of  tiie  Province.  From  the  organi- 
sation of  the  Province  in  f  702  until  1849  marriages  were  recorded  in 
the  p  nsh  and  congregational  registers  kept  by  clergymen,  in  the 
minute  books  of  the  quarter  sessions  of  the  peace,  and  in  the  memo- 
randum books  of  justices  of  the  peace.  In  addition  to  this,  fairly 
complete  ecords  of  birtii-  were  made  in  the  l)aptismal  registers,  and 
of  deaths  in  the  journals  of  clergymen,  who  recorded  the  deatli^  of 


356 


AMERICAN    HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


[mrishioners  for  coi  -ogational  j)urposcs.  Many  of  these  old  books, 
however,  have  been  either  lost  or  destroyed,  or  their  disposition  is 
not  known.  In  1849  the  municipaUfies  were  enabled  to  make  pro- 
vision by  by-law  for  the  registration  of  births,  marriages,  and  deatlis, 
and  advantage  was  taken  of  that  statute  to  a  very  considerable 
extent.  From  the  passing  of  the  law  of  1S49  until  1874  all  records 
of  marriages  in  the  Province  were  returned  to  the  city  and  <()unty 
registrars,  who  became  theii-  oflicial  custodians.  In  1869  the  odice 
of  the  registrar  general  was  established  and  compulsory  registration 
of  l)irtlis,  marriage-,  and  de.ittis  introduced.  Until  1874  the  returns 
were  still  sent  ti)  the  count}  ..nd  city  registrars,  but  since  1874  they 
have  been  sent  direct  to  the  registrar  general's  ofHce.  The  work  of 
transcribing  these  returns  and  jirescrving  them  in  proper  form  lins 
been  proceeding  for  years;  and  the  documents,  books,  and  statistical 
papers  of  the  ollice,  which  are  in  safe  keeping,  form  an  invalual)le 
collection  of  ardiives. 

In  addition  to  the  original  vouchers  of  the  j)ublic  accounts,  the 
treasury  department  contains  the  jiapers  of  the  succession  duty  oHice, 
including  allidavits  made  by  the  applicants  on  all  applications  for 
letters  probate  or  h'tters  of  ad  nun  is  t  rat  ion  in  the  Province  showing 
the  value,  as  at  the  date  of  the  death  of  a  deceased  person,  of  such 
person's  estate,  with  a  general  statement  of  the  distri'  ution  thereof; 
including  copies  of  wills,  allidavits  of  value.  ]>onds,  mul  other  docu- 
ments which  in  particular  cases  have  Ix^en  furnished  in  order  that  the 
amount  of  succession  duty  payable,  in  cases  Uable  to  payment,  might 
be  iiscertuiiied.  Tliese  documents  are  not  generally  accessible  to  the 
pid^lic,  as  they  relate  to  the  private  concerns  not  only  of  deceased 
l)Ut  of  living  pei-sons,  but  they  are  a  valuable  addition  to  the  s-urro- 
gate  courts'  records  which  are  a  mine  of  genealogictd  information. 

The  great  staple  enter|)rises  of  Ontario  are  agriculture,  industrial 
production,  lumbering,  mining,  and  in  general,  trade  and  commerce. 
Of  these  agricuhure  is  the  gre:itest,  and  the  records  of  its  growth  and 
develoi)ment  have  a  s|)ecial  v. due  to  the  student  of  economics.  Tlie 
statistical  lirancli,  formed  in  lss2,  issue  annual  ivporls  dealing  witli 
agricultural  and  nninicipal  !ntere>ts  -a-sessment  figures,  poptdation, 
areas  assessed,  taxe-  iiiipos(>il.  amnnd  receipts  and  exix-nditiire-, 
assets  and  liabihlies,  chattel  mortgage*,  pidving  of  value  to  numicijial 
de1)entureliolders  and  the  public  generally. 

Of  all  our  ilepartmenl>,  (lie  bureau  of  archives  hiis  (h'awti  mosi 
hugely  on  the  documentary  treasure^  of  the  department  of  (  rown 
lands.  The  material  of  historical  interot  iiere  is  exceedingly  varied 
and  valuable,  embracing  the  records  of  the  surveys  of  the  i'roviiice: 
the  original  nuii)s,  lield  notes,  and  ditiries  reinting  to  the  survey  of  all 
the  townships  dating  back  to  1  7s  I.  and  rc]ii'ii>  of  all  llie  ex|)loration- 
made  within  t!ie  limits  of  llic  I'invince  siiuc  liiat  dale;  re|)orts  vhow- 


CONFERENCE   OF   ARCHIVISTS. 


357 


ing  the  planning  out  and  surveys  of  the  old  military  roads,  such  as 
Dundas  Street,  Yonge  Street,  the  Penetanguishene  and   Kingston 
Roads,  and  the  papers  in  connection  with  the  surveys  of  the  Talbot 
Road,  the  Huron  Road,  theGarafraxa  Road,  the  Toronto  and  Syden- 
ham Road  (Owen  Sound).     There  is  much  valuable  information  in 
the  notes  concerning  the  pioneer  settlements.     This   branch   also 
contains  plans  of  all  the  old  Indum  reserves  of  tlie  Province  and  re- 
ports indicating  the  early  condition  of  the  Indian  settlements  on  these 
reserves;  also  of  the  ordnance  surveys  in  the  Province  pertaining  to 
land  grants  to  old  settlers;  plans  of  the  military  reserves  and  plans 
showing  the  location  and  groundwork  of  tlie  early  forts.     Resides 
these  there  are  the  original  surveys  of  all  the  lands  actjuired  by  the 
Canada  company  and  of  those  granted  to  King's  College.     AcoUection 
of  nmcli  importance  already  transferretl  to   the  archives  vaults   is 
that  embracing  the  diaries  or  journals  of  David  Thompson,  the  astron- 
omer royal,  covering  a  period  of  (it;  years,  from  17S4  to  18.50,  and 
makmg  about  oU  volumes.     Tiiompson's  famous  mai)  showing  tlio 
continent  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  I'acific,  iuid  from  a  little  south  of 
the  Great  Lakes  to  Hudson  Bay,  is  carefully  preserved  in  the  col- 
lection.    Thompson's  journals  and  map  have  furnished  interesting 
material  to  students  of  our  early  history.     They  have  been  used  by 
Mr.  Cones  in  his  work  entitled  "New  Light  <<x\  the  Great   North- 
West,"  and  have  been  found  useful  in  connection  with  editions  of 
Henry's   and  Thompson's  journals.     Comitetent   authorities  regard 
Thompson's  work  as  most  valuable  to  the  State,  especially  in  the 
fixing  of  boundary  lines;  but  of  little  less  importance  are  the  field 
notes  and  diaries  of  many  of  the  early  surveyors,  not   merely  for 
topographical  reasons  but  on  account   of  the  detailed  information 
given.     Tn  a  separate  vault  arc  many  other  valuable  and  interestiuL' 
document-;,  including  the  I'nited  Empire  {..oynlists'  lists,  the  records 
of  land  grants  \<    immigrant,  to  discharged  sohliers,  and  the  niiliti.'i 
grants  of  warraius  to  discharged  U'o(>|)>,  to  I'nited  Emi)ire  Loyalist- , 
volumes  of  land  boiud  certilicnics,  returns  of  locations  compiled  fo;- 
the  (|uarternuister  general,  liat  and  warrant  books,  doniesday  l)ooI;s, 
containing  original  t'Utries  of  every  lot  iliat  is  |)atented,  ami  extending 
to  "Jii  large  volumes,  (lescri|)tinns  and  terms  or  reference--  on  wliich 
patents  and  leases  are  issued,  patents  for  (  rown  lands,  mining  lands, 
free  iirani  lands,  and  mining  leases.     Tiiere  are  also  a  series  of  nnips 
of  the  townshijis  of  (lie  l'ro\  ince  as  surveyed,  wliich  liave  the  n.'ime- 
of  the  original  holders  and  settlers  enlered  on  eacli  lot  or  l)lock  if 
land.     These   maps   sliow   among  other   tliini,'-    lli<-   grant    made   to 
Kinu's  College,  aiKJ  llie  Ian  Is  allotted  to  iIk  (  aiiadn  Laml  to.     The 
hi-torical  value  of  IIicm'  record-  i-  inestiiUMblc.  for  without  them  the 
setilenuMil  of  the  Pinvince  (<ndd  not  be  iriic(  li  orsliown. 


S^^SiSS 


368 


AMERICAN   HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


The  most  intcirstiiig  archives  omanatiiij^  from  the  public-works 
dpi)!irtmcnt  aro  the  records  of  tho  early  colonization  roads — arteries 
of  settlement  and  trade  routes — and  the  title  deeds,  plans  and  speci- 
ficutions,  contracts,  maj)S,  and  documents  relating;  to  Cro^\-n  property, 
buildiiifis,  and  institutions,  a  finely  conditioned  collection. 

I  have  thus,  at  considerahlo  length,  described  the  field  in  which  the 
archivist  of  Ontario  labors  and  out  of  which  he  is  ij;radually  buildinj^ 
up  his  storehouse  of  archives.  The  main  j)iu-pose  of  the  bureau  is 
that  of  a  record  office  of  State  papoi-s,  primarii\  for  their  jirojier  pres- 
ervation and  for  the  f:;reater  convenience  of  the  j)ublic  ser^ncc.  This 
is  in  the  natu.^  ni  ihinj:;s.  A  central  ollice,  in  which  i)aj)ers  from  all 
departments  of  tho  Government  are  lodged  after  they  have  jiassed 
out  of  current  use,  examined,  classified,  and  filed  i)y  a  stafl"  familiar 
with  their  contents,  need  only  bo  brought  into  use  to  become  indis- 
pensably serviceable  in  the  carr^•iIlg  on  of  i)ul)lic  business;  but  in 
addition,  the  archivist,  knowing  the  contents  of  the  documents  in  his 
custody,  is  able  to  direct  and  help  in  a  manner  that  can  not  otherwise 
be  done,  that  portion  of  the  public  interested  in  the  information  con- 
tained in  the  Government  archives. 

Notwithstanding  tho  comi)leteness  and  compactness  of  the  field  I 
have  briefly  sketched  as  a  logical  and  correct  one  for  tho  purposes  of 
a  State  record  odice,  it  is  nevertheless  equally  obvious  that  Govern- 
ment records  alone  do  not  nor  can  embrace  all  the  archives  properly 
so  called  of  a  State  nr  Province.  \Mien,  therefore,  I  was  askod.  eight 
y.ars  ago,  to  orgai  .e  a  I)urertu  of  archives  for  Ontario.  I  laid  out  a 
iiHich  wider  plan  i  .an  that  I  have  referred  to,  with,  however,  the 
State  record  office  always  as  the  central  idea.  Tho  bureau  is  therefore 
double  ban-eled;  it  draws  from  the  pigeonholes  of  the  dej)artments. 
and  it  collects  outside  material  that  may  throw  light  on  the  8<'ttle- 
ment  and  develojjment  of  the  Province  of  Ontario,  the  source  of  which 
is  often  far  afield.  For  ijistance,  the  Province  of  Quei)ec  (including 
Ontario),  up  to  1774  included  all  to  tho  south  and  west  as  far  as 
St.  Louis  and  the  Mississipj)i,  and  of  course,  what  became  in  1791 
Ui)per  Canada.  The  British  r6gime  is  touched  by  the  French  and  the 
PVench  i>y  the  Indian. 

In  carrying  out  this  j-.lan  the  bureau  aims  at  the  collection  of  docu- 
ments having,  in  the  widest  sense,  a  bearing  upon  the  j)oliticai  or 
social  histofA'  of  Ontario,  and  upon  its  ngricultural.  industrial,  com- 
mercial, and  financial  d('veloj)ment:  the  collection  of  municipal, 
school,  and  church  nn-ords:  the  collection  and  |)reservation  of  ])am- 
phlets,  maps,  charts,  manuscwi)ts.  papers,  regimental  muster  rolls, 
etc.,  boari'  ;  on  its  ]tasl  or  j)resent  hi-.l(>rv;  the  collection  and  preser- 
vation of  fin  ts  illustrative  of  the  early  settlenT'nts,  pioneer  experience, 
customs,  mode  of  living,  prices,  wages,  boundaries,  areas  cultivated, 
homes,    etc.;  the    collection    and    jireservation    of    corn'spond<iiee. 


CONFEEEXCE   OF   ARCHIVISTS. 


359 


lettors  from  and  to  sottlors,  dociimonts  in  j)rivat-o  hands  pertaining  to 
jiuMic  and  social  affairs,  etc.,  reports  of  local  events  and  hist(  no 
incidents  in  the  family  or  i)uhlic  life;  the  rescuin*:;  from  ol)li\'ion  of 
the  memory  of  the  pioneer  settles,  the  obtaining;  and  i)reserviiii; 
narratives  of  their  early  exploits,  and  of  the  j)an  they  took  in  openini; 
np  the  countn,'  for  occupation;  and  the  bureau  coojierates  with  the 
historical  societies  of  Ontario  and  societies  kindred  to  tlu'in,  helpii'f^ 
to  consolidate  and  classify  their  work,  and  as  far  as  practicabl"  to 
din-ct  local  effort  on  j^iven  Unes. 

Within  this  scoj)e  the  following  j)lan  of  work  has  been  ado])ted:  To 
divide  the  histoiy  of  Ontario  until  the  con f(>dera lion  of  the  rfovinc<'s 
in  1S()7  into  its  political  jx'riods.  arrnn^iiij;  the  material  secured  in 
chronoltijjical  order,  and  s;ivin,n  each  jieriod  a  series  of  ri-jxu'ts.  'I'hus 
the  work  has  been  carried  on  iti  all  the  divisions  simultaneously,  uiid 
when  sufhcient.  material  has  accumuhited  in  any  one  of  them,  it  has 
been  utilized  by  the  jiublieation  of  documents  wMhout  undue  delay. 
From  confederation  onward,  the  larjjer  quantity  of  material  to  be 
dealt  with,  and  the  probable  absence  of  sweeping  conatiiutional 
changes  to  mark  eras,  suggested  a  chronological  rather  than  a  political 
basis  of  division.     The  jjcnods  are: 

1.  To  tho  close  of  the  J'rencii  regime,  or  tho  period  of  r'rench  dis- 
coven,',  17G3. 

2.  To  the  organization  of  the  Province  of  Upper  Canada,  17'.U. 

3.  To  the  legislative  union  of  Upper  and  Lower  Canada,  1S41. 

4.  To  co!ifederation,  ISfiT. 

5.  To  the  end  of  the  ninetconth  century,  1900. 

In  each  of  these  divisions  there  is  much  work  to  do.  Each  has  its 
own  disthictive  f<'atures,  and  there  i^,  abundance  of  minor  incident. 

Material  of  special  int<'rest  to  Ontario  bearing  on  the  French  regime 
is  contauied  in  the  "Correspondance  G6n6rale,''  in  the  papers  of  the 
"Collection  do  Moreau  St.  M6rv,"  which  have  been  transcribed  from 
the  Paris  archives  for  the  Canadian  archives,  most  of  which  has  never 
been  j)ublLshed  in  jirinted  form.  There  is  also  valuable  Ontario 
material  in  the  "Ilaidimand  Collection  of  papers,"  the  "Bouquet 
Papers,"  and  the  Colonial  Oflice  records  bearmg  on  this  jx-riod.  It  is 
int(Mid<'d  to  collect  and  juiblish  these  papers,  accompanied  l)yanad<'- 
quate  tmnslation.  when  not  writte.i  in  Fnglish,  and  adding  extiacls 
in  chronological  order  from  the  jtublications  of  Perrot,  La  Potherie, 
La  llar])e,  Charlevoix.  !><■  Kalm,  the  Jesuit  Jtelatious,  pajieis  by 
Margr^',  and  a  j)orlioii  of  the  "  .\I<5moire  pour  Messire  Francnis  Bigot," 
which  contains  what  seems  to  be  an  excellent  summary  of  tlie  com- 
merce and  ('ondition  of  all  the  western  trading  posts  at  the  time  of 
the  con(|uesl.  Other  sources  of  in.ilerial  for  publication  have  also 
been  considered  ii     omiectiou  witli  this  early  i>eriot^ 


360 


AMEEICAX    HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATIOX. 


Aboriginal  or  Indian  liLstor-  jircsonts  many  intorostin<^  features 
lu  us,  and  some  attention  has  I)oon  jriven  lo  the  subject,  inchiding 
an  inquirj'  as  to  the  original  savage  occupants  of  Ontario,  their 
origin,  migrations,  trailie,  and  intercourse;  their  language,  topo- 
grajihical  nomenclature,  folklore,  and  literature;  the  origin  and 
<U'veloi)rnent  of  their  clan,  tribal,  and  national  organization;  the 
iii>tory  and  results  of  Euro])ean  contact;  their  present  condition, 
ca])abilities,   and  teiuk'neies. 

Tliis  ]>eriod  of  Ontario  hiBtor^•,  tluit  of  the  French  regime,  will  be 
or.r  heroic  age.  as  "distance  lends  enchantment  to  the  view."  Here 
v.i]l  be  found  the  adventurous  coureurs  de  bois.  many  of  the  great 
routes  and  trading  jiosts,  the  headquarters  of  which  in  later  tunes 
was  Fort  William,  on  Thund"r  Bay.  Here  tlie  Huron  and  Iroquois 
met  in  deadly  confhct :  here  also  the  Frencli  missionaries  of  tlie 
Cross  endured  untold  sufTeruigs  with  ecstatic  heroism,  and  receiving 
the  niartyi  •  crown  left  a  reconl  of  Christian  zeal  and  fortiuuh^  not 
siu']>asse(l,  if  at  aU  equaled,  in  tlie  liiston*'  of  the  world.  Events 
wliich  stirred  the  inuigimition  and  fascuiated  the  finely  poLsed  mind 
of  a  Parknuui  will  yet  furnish  the  material  for  Canada's  great, 
iniwritten  epic  poem. 

The  Ontario  bureau  of  archives  has  made  a  begiiuiing  m  this 
field  by  pul)lishii)g  a  volume  on  the  "I(h^ntilk'ation  of  tli(>  Huron 
^'i!lage  yit(>s,"  where  ihosc  missionaries  labored  and  fcl',  pre])are(' 
by  the  venerable  and  scholarly  arcliivist  of  St.  MarA-'s  College, 
Montreal,  the  Kcv.  Father  Jones,  S.  J.,  a  contrilnition,  I  b(Uev<',  of 
und<n;bted  value.  It  may  l)e  taken  as  significant  of  our  attitu<lo 
tha.  a  work  of  such  erudite  researc'u  has  l)een  treated  as  i;  ])iiblic 
<locumi>nt  and  issueii  free  to  ilie  juMijle  at  the  expense  of  the  (ioveni- 
nii'nl.  It  will  soon  lie  follnwed  by  tbe  wriiiiigs  of  FathiT  I'oticr,  a 
Wdik  of  fa!-reaei\ing  iir.jxirtanec  and  interest,  which  is  in  process  of 
pre])aration  for  the  jiress.  The  three  volumes  nf  rnanrscript  bavo 
lieen  photcgrapiietl  jmge  by  ;)age  and  a  zineogra]>h  fac>imile  of  the 
original  will  be  ])laced  Ijefore  seliolar-^.  a  wnrk  tl  ca>nal  aunouiiee- 
inenl  tif  wiiich  lias  already  whet  led  the  appe.ites  (if  not  a  few 
aiiti(|uariaiis. 

Leaving  tliis  interesting  ])eriod  for  the  second  T  have  mentioned, 
we  reach  liie  coming  to  Ontario  of  the  I'nited  Kmjiire  Loyalists. 
These  form  the  l)a>is  of  our  tiojiubtion  und  si  ill  gi-\(>  ci>lo:'  to  our 
political  tlioiight  and  form  and  fasbiiui  to  o\ir  iii^titiitions.  In  tliis 
period  wi'  haAc  publi^iied  two  vohintes,  •  .e  of  alxnit  ]  .C()0  pages, 
being  tlie  maiuiseript  of  'vidence  laiil  before  a  royi.l  commission 
r-  soiling  on  the  claims  lor  coinpensation  for  Iosse>  sutfered  by  the 
,,  niteil  I'mjiire  l-oyalisl^^,  a  dociuueni  now  out  of  print  ar  much 
soiigiil  for.  The  oiiier  volume  consists  of  the  minutes  of  tlie  land 
boanl   of  tli^'  western  ili-triet   of  Ontario,   Loriiering  on  Lake  Erie 


CONFEREXCL   OF   ARCHIVISTS. 


;',61 


and  the  Detroit  River,  containing  particulars  of  g-ants  of  laud 
before  1792,  schedules,  regulations,  description  lists  of  grantees, 
and  survej-s,  and  n  mass  of  data  connected  with  Indian  rigbts  :ii\d 
the  se'  '(>ment  of  land  generally.  It  has  been  of  value  in  land-title 
lawsui      etc.,  and  extends  to  more  than  500  pages. 

Combu.ing  this  period  with  the  succeedmg  one,  w^  have  collected 
the  proclamations  bj-  the  Crown  fr  m  1763  to  1840  .  iid  issued  tliem 
in  a  volume,  the  necessity  oi  which  has  been  felt,  as  may  be  ui.iler- 
stood  when  it  is  stated  that  no  suv^h  collection  had  ever  been  made 
before,  though  these  proclamations  are  of  public  use  in  an  endless 
variety  of  business. 

Under  our  third  division  the  narrower  political  historj'  of  our 
Province  begins,  the  introduction  of  constitutional  government — 
thp  work  of  the  legislature,  some  of  whose  early  records  are  lost, 
the  outbreak  of  the  War  of  181-',  the  progress  of  settlement,  and  the 
development  of  municipal  and  commercial  institutions,  the  restive- 
ness  leading  to  the  risuig  of  1837,  and  the  '■on^essions  made  to 
responsible  government.  Here  a  great  deal  oi  atohival  work  has  been 
already  accomplished.  The  jour?iais  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
legislature  of  Upper  Carada  from  1792  to  1818,  so  far  as  we  have 
been  able  to  find  tliem,  iiave  bem  published  and  the  series  will  be 
issued  to  the  year  1824,  from  whith  year  printed  copies  are  in  exist- 
ence. The  journals  of  the  legislative  coimcil  concurrent  with  those 
of  the  legislutive  assembly  down  to  ISlfi  have  also  been  ptd)lish:'(l, 
and  one  volume  in  each  series,  nov  •'  the  press,  will  complete  the 
work.     These  journals  are  simply  .pensable,  being  the  original 

evidence  of  all  our  legislation.  Oui  ,  nstitutional  developmeni  and 
the  history  o<"  our  legislature  can  not  be  studied  or  under. tood 
without  them.  I  may  be  pardoned  should  I  refer  partieulnrly  to 
one  of  many  interesting  questions  dealt  with  in  the  closing  years 
of  the  eighteenth  eenturv-  as  sh.)wn  in  these  journals.  The  legis- 
lative assembly,  following  the  rule  of  the  Inipeniil  House  of  Com- 
mons, claimed  tb"  power  of  the  pui-se,  and  objected  to  their  supply 
biil  being  an  ended  by  tne  legislative  council  or  upper  house.  A 
deadlock  ensued;  neither  side  woidd  bu<lge  from  its  position;  a 
conference  of  '  ^th  houses  was  held  and  the  assend)ly  won  on  the 
understanding  thai  the  question  would  bo  referred  to  the  law  ollicrs 
of  the  Crown  in  Britain  for  fuliire  guidance.  This  was  acconlingly 
done  and  the  right  claimed  by  the  assenddy  or  lower  house  was 
conculed  to  it.  Thus  was  solved  amicably  for  Canada  at  the  smnll 
hnndi't  of  Newark,  on  the  banks  of  the  Niagara,  a  constitutioiud 
principle  which  recently  sho(dc  the  United  Kingdom  and  jirodr.ii'd 
a  serious  and  radical  constitutional  crisis,  m  which  once  m;>re  the 
Commons  vindicated  their  supremacy  ii\  questions  of  national 
finance. 


362 


AMERICAN    HISTORICAI.    ASSOCIATION. 


The  records  of  the  first  Court  of  Common  Picas  for  Upper  Canada, 
with  valuable  annotations  and  historical  notes,  are  being  prepared 
for  the  press. 

In  tliis  division  we  have  in  hand  among  other  things  the  pi  t-puration 
of  a  don"  "day  book  for  the  Province.  Our  plan,  which  has  mtide 
sul)stantiai  progress,  is  to  cover  all  our  settlement  of  Crown  lands 
from  17S3  to  1900  by  townships,  giving  each  grantee  a  description, 
and,  for  the  puqiose  of  r'^ference,  a  number.  Succeeding  volumes 
will  furnish  memoirs,  notes,  and  statistical  data  of  a  special  character 
l)i';iring  on  the  grantees  and  ou  their  settlements.  In  this  connec- 
tion we  are  collecting  and  rapidly  accumulating  local  material  which 
will  be  drawn  upon  for  this  work.  This  I  consider  one  of  the  biggest 
undertakings  planned  by  the  bureau,  which  occupy  much  time  to 
bruig  it  to  completion,  but  when  completed  will  be  a  work  of  refer- 
ent c>  of  permanent  use  to  our  historical  investigators. 

We  are  also  collecting  papers  and  documents  pertaining  to  the 
poUticdl  history  of  Ontario  that  ought  to  be  preserved  in  permt,- 
nent  form,  which  will  be  issued  in  a  series  of  four  consecutive 
volumes.  These  have  been  planned  on  lines  that  will  bring  their 
usefulness  directly  to  the  growing  class  of  students  of  our  provincial 
history. 

Lately  a  genealogical  branch  has  been  included  in  our  program 
and  steps  are  being  taken  to  obtain  by  legislation  a  change  of 
official  forms  so  as  to  help  in  the  collecting  of  data.  The  Wuik  will 
be  conducted  on  the  basis  of  the  county  unit,  with  correspondents 
engaged  under  the  directioH  of  the  bureau. 

While  effort  has  beeL  directed  on  these  lines,  I  have  paid  mora 
attention  to  the  collecting  of  much  neglected  material  throughout 
the  Province — in  the  hands  of  private  individuals,  public  bodies,  or 
local  officials,  rather  than  to  the  exact  and  adequate  ciaaaification 
and  indexing  ol  outside  material  as  it  is  being  received.  The  Prov- 
ince has  been  so  long  entirely  neglected  that  when  I  undertook  to 
organize  the  department  I  decided  that  the  most  valuable  service  I 
could  render  to  the  public  was  to  acquire,  to  collect,  and  aafelypreserve 
whatever  material  I  could  find,  believing  the  day  would  soon  come 
when  the  value  of  such  material  would  be  fully  realized  and  the 
necessary  office  assistance  provided  to  enable  me  to  make  the  accu- 
mulated archives  conveniently  accessible  to  the  public. 


^ 


